WorkSafe Victoria is looking to appoint a new Chief Executive, following the resignation of Greg Tweedly earlier this month after the Victorian Government announced it would strip $470 million over four years from its budget to bolster general revenue.

 

The government’s plans have met fierce resistance, both from the Australian Workers Union and from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, which has embarked on a campaign to prevent the cuts.

 

Maurice Blackburn workplace law expert John Cain said the State Government’s plan is seriously flawed.

“It is a raid on employer WorkCover contributions, and could drive up premiums and threaten injured workers’ compensation entitlements. It’s unfair for all Victorians and needs to be stopped,” he said.

 

There are more than 2.5 million people working in Victoria, and this year about eight workers in every thousand will be injured at work to a level requiring at least a week off work, medical attention and compensation.

“These injured workers are entitled to fair compensation,” Mr Cain said. “We need to invest more in preventing workplace injury, not put more pressure on premiums and benefits paid to injured workers.

“Businesses contribute to WorkCover on the basis that it is an insurance fund for injured workers, and they expect that premiums will be invested securely to compensate injured workers, not raided when times are tough.

“It’s a short-sighted plan that leaves little buffer to keep premiums affordable for business. “This is a back door tax that is bad for business, bad for workers and bad for Victorians. “No one should let the State Government jeopardise workers’ safety and entitlements – and Victoria’s future.”